Download Albertsons/Von's app. There's tons of coupons, many of which vary among users. It's pretty laboring, but you can save big by using it (for example, almost every week we get a $5 off $50 - or similar - coupon). Also, when the price is low, considering getting an Entertainment book. You get a free subscription to the app -- which you can use around the country -- and every Ralph's store has a $5 off $50 coupon. Last year, it reset monthly, although I hear it's changing this year... either quarterly or not at all. There's also a few coupons in the book that can be redeemed at any Ralph's. The book expires 12-31, as does the app subscription. (Sadly, many of my favorite merchants that have participated for years withdrew from 2020, but it's still worth buying... you can get the books/subscription for about $10 shipped, and don't forget your e Bates cash back which will eventually rebate you a couple bucks or so.)
Also consider the ethic markets... I'm not as familiar with San Diego, but in Los Angeles/Orange County/Inland Empire, savings can be huge, although quality can be pretty poor so choose carefully! 99 Cent Only store also sells a good selection of typically reject produce at rock bottom pricing. It's also a fun place to find bargains on discontinued or overstock grocery products. They typically receive their new shipments on Friday - it's a guilty pleasure of mine!
Smart and Final is also worth checking out... S&F is different -- stores are typically smaller, feature less grocery selection/variety and use warehouse shelving. Some stores feature a full-service meat counter, but none have service delis or bakeries (but they do carry store-made products). Their private label grocery, produce and meat prices are comparable to Walmart. In the past, they had the best produce in the area, but my last few visits have been disappointing... not sure if this is the new norm (they were sold to a private equity firm recently) or just poor luck.
Stater Bros. has cheaper pricing on branded groceries than Ralphs and Vons/Albertsons, but not as cheap as Walmart etc. Produce & meat quality and pricing is better than Ralphs and Vons/Albertsons, but they don't have the loss leaders those chains do.
In 1999, Albertsons acquired American Stores (owners of Lucky), making it the largest grocery in the country. Albertsons, which had minimal presence in CA, became #1 in SoCal and #2 in NoCal, just barely behind Safeway for the #1 spot. The merger was a total disaster for a multitude of reasons. Within six years, the Company had completely exited NoCal and closed half of its SoCal stores; it was split into multiple new ownership groups. In the mid-2010s, a private equity firm re-acquired the split Albertsons as well as Safeway. The merger was pursued for pricing power (the combined Albertsons-Safeway operation has FEWER stores than Albertsons alone had in 2000) as well as Safeway's manufacturing facilities and private label contracts - by this point, Albertsons had none of its own and instead relied on expensive licensing agreements.
In SoCal, Albertsons and Vons now have unified products and pricing; they're the same chain but they're reluctant to consolidate under a single name. Kroger is undergoing a rebranding campaign, and said it considered re-branding all of its core chains (e.g. Ralphs, Frys, Smith's, etc.) under the Kroger banner, but decided it was best not to, referencing the exodus of consumers when Lucky was rebranded Albertsons. I'm cetain Albertsons feels the same way! Safeway also invested billions of dollars into heavily renovating Vons locations, which included the installation of new furniture and fixtures. SoCal Albertsons saw a fraction of that investment, and aren't nearly as nice as Vons or Ralphs (which received a similar investment as Vons).
Ralphs' everyday pricing is cheaper than Albertsons/Vons. This is not a guess
. Both chains purchase a similar grade of produce, but over the long run, you'll save more by shopping at Ralphs. Sale pricing at both chains is similar, but Albertsons/Vons typically have deeper discounts on a few loss leaders (most commonly, a few cuts of meat and beverages such as soda and bottled water). Trader Joe's has decent pricing and a solid selection of unique and trendy goods, but anybody who buys primarily meat and produce and thinks they're saving money by shopping here is fooling themselves.
Last edited:
.
